"I thought I would only dance with you for a moment... But we're just beginning. I have not yet... tasted enough, I have not had my fill!"

– Zodd

Nosferatu Zodd (不死のゾッド,Nosuferatu Zoddo?) or "Zodd the Immortal" is a legendary sword master and recurring anti-villain throughout the series. Any battle in which he participates results in mountains of dead.

Zodd is a powerful apostle who travels from battlefield to battlefield seeking ever-stronger opponents. He serves as the rival of both the Skull Knight and Guts.

Contents

When in human form, Zodd is a 7-foot-tall barbarian warrior. Interestingly, some of Zodd's facial features, his hair, and his pointed ears resemble Guts' own. It is not yet clear if this has any significance. While he normally wears little to no clothing facing Guts in his human form, Zodd wears light armor over his torso with a fur loincloth and cape otherwise.

In his apostle form, Zodd becomes a Behemoth-like beast and can sprout wings to take flight. After his confrontation vision with Griffith, Zodd loses one of his horns, which reflects as a scar on his human form's forehead.

Zodd is a fearless apostle who has devoted his existence to combat. His urge to fight stronger opponents and relish in the fight has left mountains of the dead in his wake. He is ferocious and does not show mercy, even when an opponent is clearly outmatched. Above all, he seeks a challenge.

Despite his keenness for battle, Locus has stated that Zodd was a man of great depth. Unlike most apostles, he does not eat human flesh; neither is he sadistic nor cruel, nor does he enjoy torturing humans or having to kill weaklings. He does not kill for the sake of it, only for the thrill of battle. Indeed, more than once Zodd has expressed great melancholy in his choice to become an apostle, as it has made him too strong to find a challenge. For those who survive their first encounter with him, and thus prove themselves worthy opponents, Zodd has nothing but respect. He holds anyone who can harm or even defend against him in great esteem, such as Guts and the Skull Knight. It is implied that Zodd greatly respects Guts for being a formidable match despite being a human.

Even among apostles, Zodd's fighting ability is legendary, and is regarded as the most powerful of physically-based apostles.

Master Swordsman/Tactician: Due to his incredible age, even among apostles, Zodd has learned a large variety of fighting styles and tactics throughout his centuries of battle. He is able to fight masterfully with nearly any weapon he finds on the battlefield, but his preferred weaponry are duel-wielding swords and battleaxes. When facing in battle with Guts at the Hill of Swords, he is able to inspect within seconds that his sword is damaged by the Dragonslayer's massive swings and quickly discards it, adopting a new battle style from new weapons on the spot.

Supernatural Strength: Zodd is able to defeat the average apostle with ease, and is the only apostle capable of fighting on equal footing against the Skull Knight. In his apostle form, he can parry large weapons with his horns and claws, absorb arrow volleys with his thick fur and skin, and break through solid concrete and rock with sheer force. His strength is such that he can send a fully-armored Guts with his Dragonslayer (a combined approximate 363kg) flying across the battlefield with the swipe of his paw.

Supernatural Durability: His durability is exceptional; he is able to endure several lighting strikes from Ganishka, an attack which kills several of his fellow apostles. In addition, Zodd shows incredible pain tolerance; reacting to his arm being cut off with mere amusement.

Regeneration: A possible cause for his "immortality" on the battlefield, if damaged or grievously injured, Zodd can regenerate and heal his wounds nearly instantly. When his arm is severed by Guts during their first encounter, Zodd merely picks it up and reattaches it to the bloody stump before the wound is fused and healed within moments. However, this only applies if Zodd can physically attach the severed limb or piece of himself to the stump; as he couldn't regenerate his horn once it was cut off, however given the supernatural abilities of Femto, it also could be that attacks from God Hand members cannot be healed.

Supersonic Flight: In his aerial form, he can generate membrane wings which allow him to fly at supersonic speeds and to rip apart flesh.

"If you consider this man your true friend, and regard him as a brother, then know this. When this man's ambition crumbles, it is your destiny to face your death. A death you can never escape﻿!"

– Zodd's prophecy to Guts.

Zodd transformed after being cut by Guts' sword.

A mystery, Nosferatu Zodd lived for three centuries prior to offering his services to the Chuder empire during its war with the kingdom of Midland. He is considered by many mercenaries to be a "god of the battlefield", having fought countless battles without equal. Zodd first meets Guts while protecting a Chuder stronghold, slaughtering almost fifty of the Band of the Hawk's Raiders that stormed its halls, before the swordsman enters alone to confront him. With Guts enraged to find him amongst the butchered remains of his men, Zodd knocks the charging Guts back by throwing the corpses of two Raiders at him with a swing of his sword.[2] Zodd then advances towards Guts, complimenting his swordsmanship, before the two begin to exchange blows. After a struggle, Guts manages to slice the top half of Zodd's blade clean off, cutting into the apostle's right shoulder in the process. In response, commending Guts for being the first human to ever deal him harm for a long time, Zodd grabs his opponent's sword while assuming his true form to fight at his full potential.[3]

Guts and Griffith carry out a pincer strike on Zodd.

Zodd expresses disappointment in Guts' feeble attempts to fight him after his transformation, reluctantly proceeding to finish him off. But the Hawks intervene to save Guts by hitting the apostle with an arrow volley. After shrugging off their second assault, Zodd proclaims that the Hawks' interference with his fight is unforgivable. He decimates the retreating force, cornering Griffith and the now wounded Guts before they can escape,[4] and insists that they fight. Defending Guts, Griffith slices the apostle's left arm above the elbow, but he is quickly thrown back by the beast's retaliatory tail strike. While delighted to have found another capable of hurting him, Zodd expresses regret in having to kill an unconscious Griffith along with the incapacitated swordsman. However, Zodd stays his hand upon seeing the Crimson Behelit around Griffith's neck, shocked yet amused by God Hand's choice. Knowing full well the significance of Griffith's destiny, Zodd decides to take his leave by punching through the keep's roof to take flight. Before leaving, Zodd cryptically tells Guts that he will face an inevitable death in a time when Griffith's dream is shattered.[5]

Nosferatu Zodd impales Wyald.

From that point on, Zodd watches the Hawks' actions from afar. During the Battle of Doldrey, observing the duel between Guts and Boscogn from a distance, Zodd throws his sword towards Guts for the swordsman to use after his own broke during the battle.[6] He departs soon after Guts defeats Boscogn, knowing the arrival of the Eclipse to be approaching. A year later, on his way to the Eclipse ceremony, Zodd encounters the Hawks for the last time as they are attacked by Wyald.[7] Zodd takes offense to his fellow apostle acting against the God Hand's will, and kills him for using the weakened Griffith as a hostage. Zodd then relays to Griffith that his Crimson Behelit will return to him, but neglects to answer Guts' questions about his previous statement, explaining that all will be revealed imminently as he flies away.[8]

Zodd halting the Skull Knight

As the Eclipse begins, having no interest in partaking in the slaughter of the Hawks alongside his fellow apostles, Zodd remains in the physical world near the portal to the site of the Eclipse. He awaits the Skull Knight's arrival, the figure mistakenly concluding that Zodd was given the task of guarding the portal to the Interstice.[9][10] Eventually, Zodd is forced to let the Skull Knight pass, finding and reattaching his limbs that were severed during their fight. Soon afterwards, he witnesses his rival emerge from the portal with Guts and Casca. Shocked to see Guts still alive, Zodd accepts the Skull Knight's request to postpone their battle until a more convenient time, and allows him to escape with the surviving sacrifices and Rickert. While watching them leave, Zodd expresses his anticipation to see how the newly branded swordsman will survive in his darkened reality.[11]

Two years after the Eclipse, having just slaughtered three-hundred mercenaries, Zodd has become bored of constantly fighting weaker opponents. Zodd considers hunting down Guts after learning how many apostles the swordsman has killed in his quest for revenge. But Zodd suddenly experiences a vision of the Hawk of Light and assumes his apostle form to fight the apparition in a stand-off, resulting in his defeat. As Zodd regains consciousness, he finds his left horn severed before him and a gash present on his forehead. He stares up at the crow-filled sky before hearing a disembodied voice beckoning him to travel to St. Albion where "the desired" will come.[12]

Zodd arriving to St. Albion.

During the city's destruction as a consequence of the Incarnation Ceremony, Zodd arrives to the outskirts where he comes face to face with the Skull Knight.[13] The two travel together to city after daybreak to find the result of the ritual: a reconstituted Griffith.[14] Zodd then bows to his new master, killing the Kushan soldiers advancing towards him before taking Griffith to safety.[15][16]

After taking Griffith to Rickert's location, passing over a forest along the way, Zodd finally gets his chance to battle Guts on the snow-covered Hill of Swords.[17][18] Expressing his excitement to fight Guts, Zodd explains his intention to protect Griffith from the swordsman as the two battle each other.[19] After Zodd commends Guts for having grown since their last fight, Zodd assumes his true form and the battle reaches a climax, resulting in the destruction of the elvish cave near Godo's home. At that point, Griffith orders Zodd to cease fighting and instead to carry him off to begin his campaign.[20][21]

Zodd as the New Band of the Hawk's Captain of the Raiders.

Zodd later appears in armor when Griffith commences his initial attack on the Kushan invasion force that took over Midland, massacring numerous Kushan soldiers alongside the multitude of apostles that have gathered to serve Griffith as his new Band of the Hawk.[22][23] Later, Griffith sends Zodd alongside Grunbeld to burn down the Spirit Tree near Enoch Village, which was detrimental to his agenda. Zodd confronts Guts and the party he has amassed since their last encounter along with the Skull Knight.

Guts and Zodd form an uneasy and temporary alliance to deal with Ganishka.

Zodd crosses paths with Guts yet again at Vritannis, leading the apostles against Ganishka and the monstrous creatures he has sent to ravage the city. Though the two join forces to defeat Ganishka's construct, neither capable of defeating their mutual enemy alone, Zodd tells Guts that they will have to settle their duel another time. However, when Guts learns that Griffith is outside the city to face Ganishka and his army, Zodd threatens to mince the swordsman if he reconsiders going after his leader. Guts accepts the terms when Serpico reminds him of his priorities, Zodd leading the apostles out of the city to join Griffith. Days later, during the final battle with an ascended Ganishka, Zodd carries Griffith and Rakshas onto the giant apostle's body and is present at ground zero of the World Transformation.

Zodd is fought early on in the chapter "Nosferatu Zodd", which consists soley of his boss fight. Zodd is first fought in human form, then in Apostle form. First-time players may have difficulty in defeating Zodd under their own power before the scene automatically changes, causing them to miss the Behelit, but it is doable. Zodd is powerful and his attacks are strong, and many have high knockback and chance to dizzy the player. However, they are also highly telegraphed and easy to avoid once the player becomes aware of their pattern.

Zodd repeats his double boss fight at the chapter "The Black Swordsman vs. the Beast Swordsman", and is here much more aggressive and fearsome, as well as armed with more power behind his attacks and higher defense. The area is much more open, however, providing more ability to dodge his attacks.

Zodd also appears in the late game chapter "The Blaze" alongside Grunbeld, and can be defeated by a skilled player, although there is no reward for doing so.

Finally, Zodd is an optional boss that can be defeated for a Behelit in the last chapter of the game, "Pishaca Invasion", and will appear on the north side of the city, focusing on attacking Emperor Ganishka's forces.

Zodd has high vitality, defense, and monstrous attack power, but has very short range and the slowest attacks in the game. Zodd's attacks are odd, and aiming them properly may take getting used to, but all of them work well for keeping opponents away with their high knockback. His sub-weapon abilities include Roar, which stuns all surrounding opponents; Rock Hurl, wherein Zodd digs a rock out of the ground and launches it at opponents for high damage; and Stomp, wherein Zodd deals moderate damage to all surrounding enemies with a powerful ground stomp. For his Deathblow, Zodd reels back and swings his swords forward in a diagonal slash with immense force, killing and launching all in his way.

With a full Deathblow gauge, Zodd can transform into his Apostle form to annihilate his opponents. Zodd's attack power, speed, and endurance all skyrocket in this form, and virtually no opponent poses a threat. In this state, Zodd's sub-weapon moves include Mighty Roar, which is an upgrade of Roar with higher range; Tail Sweep, an omnidirectional attack with moderate damage; Rampage, a charge which causes Zodd to run forward at high speed and smash anything in his way; and Death Hurl, wherein he slams the targeted opponent with a powerful uppercut, launching them. For his Deathblow, Zodd spreads and flaps his wings, creating a black tornado, which deals high damage and sucks in all opponents, before jutting his head forward and letting out a mighty roar, killing anything caught in its path. As with the Berserker Armor, the Frenzy gauge depletes at roughly half its usual rate while in this form.

Zodd can be encountered as both ally and boss in the Endless Eclipse. He also appears as a boss several times; he will appear on Layers 24 (normal form) and 25 (Apostle Form), and appears in normal form as one of the final five bosses on Layer 96 of Griffith's Eclipse, Layer 97 of Judeau's Eclipse, and Layer 98 of Wyald's Eclipse. He also appears in Apostle form on Layer 99 of Guts', Wyald's, Judeau's, and Griffith's Eclipse. Zodd's final five bosses for Layers 96--100 are Griffith, Guts, Apostle Wyald, Mozgus, and Femto in that order. His reward for defeating Femto on Layer 100 is the Apostle costume, which places him in Apostle form as the default.

His first name, Nosferatu, is a direct reference to the 1922 German expressionist film, Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror). In the movie the word Nosferatu is a Romanian term synonymous with vampire, though this is not the case in real life.